(1) Every distribution licensee shall, within six months, from the grant of licence, establish, in its area of supply, under sub-section (5) of section 42 of the Act, a Forum for Redressal of Grievances of the consumers, in accordance with the guidelines contained in these Regulations:
Provided that the distribution licensee may, by an order, after considering factors such as the number of representations received, disposal of representation within the specified time limit, ease of access for the consumer and the geographical area, establish more than one Forum in its area of supply and in that event each such Forum shall have the jurisdiction as the distribution licensee, out of its total area of supply, define the territorial jurisdiction of each Forum in such order.
(2) In order to ensure that all grievances are disposed of within the specified time limit the Commission may, from time to time, direct the licensee to increase the number of Forums.